There's little doubt that Yahoo Widgets took the HDTV market by storm at CES, in fact by the end of the first day of the show, it was news if a manufacturer didn't announce the feature. Initially we didn't understand what all the fuss was about, but after spending some time with the Widgets, we started to see the light. Unfortunately something has changed in the past five months and now that we have it in our home to play with, it just doesn't seem the same. The one word we'd use to describe the difference is "laggy" -- check out the video after the break to see for yourself. The demos at CES were down right snappy, but even in our hard wired tests connected to the internet via a 20Mbps FiOS connection, the widgets loaded so slow we're not sure we'd actually even use 'em. To make matters worse, because most people don't have internet connections behind their HDTV, they're going to need some sort of WiFi adapter to make this work. The Samsung 7000 series HDTV we tested has an optional USB dongle that sells for $80, but we couldn't even get it to work despite the hour of our life we wasted on it.
In this video we hit the record button and the TV's power button at the same time, so it's easy to see how long it takes for the TV to turn on. Then we hit the "Internet TV" button and you'll notice that it takes some time for the Widgets to load. The good news is that all the Widgets update in the background after the initial load, but we wish there was a way to set them to automatically load in the background when you turn on the TV so the delay wouldn't be as noticeable.
That was one of my first worries when i saw this on BBC Click a few weeks back. Everything in my house connects to the router wirelessly and i don't really want to run an ethernet cable up the wall either.
If a Nintendo DS can have WiFi built in i would atleast expect a £800 tv to have it too.
Philips have started shipping the newer TVs with wireless, and what they call NetTV, with the ability to browse things like YouTube, news sites etc. First version also suffers from a bit of lag, but I guess most of the processing power in these sets goes to the picture quality engine and not to a built-in web browser...
I would assume a computer was running the show at CES whereas the take home model has to make do with whatever non-X86 chips they stick in HDTVs these days, Not to much processing power available in TVs they really need a little nano or atom powered PC running all the widget overlays.
At CES, most of the Yahoo widgets were running on an Intel CE 3100 which is a X86 based SOC for set-top boxes. This SOC is not for the inside of TVs, but are for Blu-ray and cable set-top boxes. This processor is snappier that what would be found in this Samsung.
When the factories looked twice at how slim the margins on tv's have gotten I imagine they downgraded the chips used for the widgets from the floor models.
Computing power is getting cheap, but Atoms have shown that for brisk performance you still need to spend a little money.
I promise, when it comes to add on features, they didn't.
Next time, could you show us a video of the DLNA interface and comment as to how the set does with a NAS etc please? - That is that TV's killer feature IMHO. p
Samsung wastes too much time on gimmicky features while not improving picture quality significantly. The Pioneer I have though is the total opposite: world's best image quality, but totally unusable programme guide and media center functions. Can I haz both plz?
Well technically, they create the best LCD panels and (as of last year) were the only manufacturer that could actually display 1080P. No one else could.
Unfortunately intrinsic technical quality does not always directly correlate with perceived quality...
as soon as tv's are starting to behave like pc's i would rather have a large dumb lcd monitor attached to a tiny fanless pc. if a new hype emerges or i need more power, i can just install new software/ a different OS/ a new machine all together, but keep the monitor. too bad large pc monitors (i'm talking 40 inch and up) are 10 times more expensive than lcd tv's that size.
Um, why can't you get an HDTV then hook a computer up to it via HDMI? What benefit would a large lcd geared towards use as monitor have over an HDTV? Only thing that crosses my mind is some monitors might have greater than 1080 resolution which you don't really need if your using it as a tv most of the time.
it would be cheaper. it is not, but if having a separate lcd would be mainstream, the manufacturing costs would have been lower, and they could be flatter, less power consuming and have less design constraints.
My first thought when I saw the picture was "holy shit, Channel 8's on Engadget?" and then I realized it was one of their shitty reporters that was in it....
Talk about depressing. I live about 40 minutes north of Tampa, but glad to see the region get on Engadget (I guess).
The most capable widget implentation are those based on Intel's 3100 SOC which is designed for cable and blu-ray set-top boxes. It does not surprise me that an internal non-X86 TV processor with be slow on a web tecnology based widget engine.
Once again the benefits of having an HTPC are apparent. I'm continually amazed at the gadgets and gimmicks people will drop money on when an HTPC would handle all of it and then some.
Sigh! Just let a TV do what it's meant to do. What's the point in adding these "senseless" features? What am I going to do with widgets on the TV screen? Not a necessary feature for me really.
Right now the Sony KLV40ZX1M is looking nicer - yeah no TV tuner and only 1 HDMI, but I personally don't need more than 1 HDMI because the Yamaha receiver has more and takes care of that issue.
Approx. $1800 at Vann's (down from the $3500 current retail price). Wait a few more months before these super slim edge lit LED screens become cheaper. :)
Wanna know what else sucks? I live in Vienna and own the 46B650 and the only widget I currently have is the YouTube widget. The other one's aren't available.
I am pretty sure the 8000 series has wifi built in. Also did you guys update the firmware of the tv ? i know there is atleast 1 firmware update since the tv's release. (i have the 6000 series). The new update supposedly makes the widgets faster. i wouldnt know though because the 6000 only has infolink.
I agree with some of you here. Let a TV be a TV and spend the R&D budget on better image processing (black levels on LCD's are still not up to par). If I want computer-like features, I'll use a real computer with OS X, Vista, XBMC... whatever. Also, $80 for a wi-fi usb dongle? I'll just buy a 2nd router and hook up my net capable Blu-ray player and receiver, too. (Oh yeah, and the media center I bought with the money I saved from buying a "plain" good flat screen HD set.)
I have a Samsung LN52A650 and the TV itself is superb. I bought the wireless adaptor to give me news feeds and weather etc and it is worthless. I have it connected via FIOS as well and it is so slow I never use it. I really expected more from Samsung.
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posted May 21st 2009 12:44PM
That was one of my first worries when i saw this on BBC Click a few weeks back. Everything in my house connects to the router wirelessly and i don't really want to run an ethernet cable up the wall either.
If a Nintendo DS can have WiFi built in i would atleast expect a £800 tv to have it too.
+1
If a decent WiFi chip can go inside a DSi/iPod Touch, a Television should easily get one too.
Philips have started shipping the newer TVs with wireless, and what they call NetTV, with the ability to browse things like YouTube, news sites etc. First version also suffers from a bit of lag, but I guess most of the processing power in these sets goes to the picture quality engine and not to a built-in web browser...
Most people dont have 'internet access' behind their HDTV's? Really? Talk about doing it wrong.
Is she wearing wenga balls?
Let's hope Sony can pull it off better.
planning to buy the bravia v5500.....its got widgets but not yahoo plus soon enough PSN is also gonna come on it.
its really quick and no lag whatsoever plus not 80buck dongle.
I would assume a computer was running the show at CES whereas the take home model has to make do with whatever non-X86 chips they stick in HDTVs these days, Not to much processing power available in TVs they really need a little nano or atom powered PC running all the widget overlays.
At CES, most of the Yahoo widgets were running on an Intel CE 3100 which is a X86 based SOC for set-top boxes. This SOC is not for the inside of TVs, but are for Blu-ray and cable set-top boxes. This processor is snappier that what would be found in this Samsung.
When the factories looked twice at how slim the margins on tv's have gotten I imagine they downgraded the chips used for the widgets from the floor models.
Computing power is getting cheap, but Atoms have shown that for brisk performance you still need to spend a little money.
I promise, when it comes to add on features, they didn't.
Is that perspective or is she picking up a very small woman on a phone?
Disappointing huh...
Next time, could you show us a video of the DLNA interface and comment as to how the set does with a NAS etc please?
- That is that TV's killer feature IMHO.
p
Thanks in advance
You guys are so uninformed.
Thank you for explaining that insult in such detail.
Samsung wastes too much time on gimmicky features while not improving picture quality significantly. The Pioneer I have though is the total opposite: world's best image quality, but totally unusable programme guide and media center functions. Can I haz both plz?
Have to agree, the dlna functions on my Kuro seem like little more than a waste of a button on the remote so far.
Then again, the ability to look at pictures on a usb drive isn't why I bought a Pioneer, is it?
Well technically, they create the best LCD panels and (as of last year) were the only manufacturer that could actually display 1080P. No one else could.
Unfortunately intrinsic technical quality does not always directly correlate with perceived quality...
as soon as tv's are starting to behave like pc's i would rather have a large dumb lcd monitor attached to a tiny fanless pc. if a new hype emerges or i need more power, i can just install new software/ a different OS/ a new machine all together, but keep the monitor. too bad large pc monitors (i'm talking 40 inch and up) are 10 times more expensive than lcd tv's that size.
Um, why can't you get an HDTV then hook a computer up to it via HDMI? What benefit would a large lcd geared towards use as monitor have over an HDTV? Only thing that crosses my mind is some monitors might have greater than 1080 resolution which you don't really need if your using it as a tv most of the time.
it would be cheaper. it is not, but if having a separate lcd would be mainstream, the manufacturing costs would have been lower, and they could be flatter, less power consuming and have less design constraints.
thats cool.
Nice...WFLA-DT Tampa Bay. Does Engadget have offices in Tampa?
Yeah I live in Tampa.
My first thought when I saw the picture was "holy shit, Channel 8's on Engadget?" and then I realized it was one of their shitty reporters that was in it....
Talk about depressing. I live about 40 minutes north of Tampa, but glad to see the region get on Engadget (I guess).
The most capable widget implentation are those based on Intel's 3100 SOC which is designed for cable and blu-ray set-top boxes. It does not surprise me that an internal non-X86 TV processor with be slow on a web tecnology based widget engine.
Once again the benefits of having an HTPC are apparent. I'm continually amazed at the gadgets and gimmicks people will drop money on when an HTPC would handle all of it and then some.
Sigh! Just let a TV do what it's meant to do. What's the point in adding these "senseless" features? What am I going to do with widgets on the TV screen? Not a necessary feature for me really.
Right now the Sony KLV40ZX1M is looking nicer - yeah no TV tuner and only 1 HDMI, but I personally don't need more than 1 HDMI because the Yamaha receiver has more and takes care of that issue.
Approx. $1800 at Vann's (down from the $3500 current retail price). Wait a few more months before these super slim edge lit LED screens become cheaper. :)
http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/462779825/sony-klv40zx1m?v_c=PriceGrabber&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=19-22868307-2
TV is awesome. I could care less for the widgets. That's why I have a PC. I don't use that function on the TV.
Wanna know what else sucks? I live in Vienna and own the 46B650 and the only widget I currently have is the YouTube widget. The other one's aren't available.
I am pretty sure the 8000 series has wifi built in. Also did you guys update the firmware of the tv ? i know there is atleast 1 firmware update since the tv's release. (i have the 6000 series). The new update supposedly makes the widgets faster. i wouldnt know though because the 6000 only has infolink.
i shall keep my WII for weather and news ...
I agree with some of you here. Let a TV be a TV and spend the R&D budget on better image processing (black levels on LCD's are still not up to par). If I want computer-like features, I'll use a real computer with OS X, Vista, XBMC... whatever. Also, $80 for a wi-fi usb dongle? I'll just buy a 2nd router and hook up my net capable Blu-ray player and receiver, too. (Oh yeah, and the media center I bought with the money I saved from buying a "plain" good flat screen HD set.)
I have a Samsung LN52A650 and the TV itself is superb. I bought the wireless adaptor to give me news feeds and weather etc and it is worthless. I have it connected via FIOS as well and it is so slow I never use it. I really expected more from Samsung.
NEWSCHANNEL 8 ON YOUR SIDE
Tampa!
You can play with the Internet@TV widgets here: http//twitteronyourtv.com
http://twitteronyourtv.com that should be...